Résumé des résultats (Abstract)
(Anglais)
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Short summary:
The aim of the project is to provide advanced tools to significantly improve the efficiency of integrated water management in the Mediterranean and semiarid river catchments. There are major problems in the application of existing water quality models during periods without run off and the extreme first flush effects at the beginning of the rain period. The dynamic processes in sediments during the period of no Surface run off and the interaction of resuspended matter and water quality is often not considered. It is proposed that selected models will be improved by development of new hydrological and sediment modules. They will be tested in a rigorous experimental catchment framework, at various Mediterranean case study sites at the sub-basin scale. Experience of data needs and model application, through close interaction to a range of end-users, will be used to prepare guidelines for the operational use of models and adapted management strategies.
Scientific objectives and approach:
1) To define the requirements to be met by water quality models for application to catchments with temporary waters;
2) To develop and test hydrological modules which account for the different runoff generation mechanisms as well as surface/ground water exchanges;
3) To develop sediment modules to account for accumulation, re-suspension and transformation processes of organic matter and nutrients during dry and wet periods;
4) To improve water quality models by integrating the sediment and hydrological modules.
The project is organised in 5 Workpackages: WP01: Project-organisation, WP02: Assessment of existing and validation of improved models, WP03: Hydrology and water quality dynamics, WP04: Channel bed processes, WP05: Programming the tempQsim modules.
WP02 will test existing water quality models for their applicability to temporary waters. WP03 and WP04 will focus on the basic research needed to gain knowledge of ongoing processes during the dry period, both for the aquatic phase and for the channel beds. There will be a very close collaboration between both workpackages. WP05 comprises the theoretical abstraction of results from WP03 and WP04 and the development of new modules especially relating to formation of organic matter during the dry period and its re-suspension during the first flush events.
Problems to be solved:
The aim of the project tempQsim is to provide advanced tools to significantly improve the efficiency of integrated water management in the Mediterranean and semiarid river catchments.
There are currently very major problems in the application of existing water quality models in the Mediterranean during periods without runoff and the extreme first flush effects at the beginning of the rain period. The dynamic processes in sediments during the period of no surface runoff and the interaction of re-suspended matter and water quality is often not considered. To meet the aim of the project, the particular water quality dynamics of temporary waters will be incorporated into existing catchment and in-stream water quality models.
Selected models will be improved by development of new hydrological and sediment modules. The selected models will be rigorously tested in an experimental catchment framework, at various Mediterranean case study sites (Portugal, Spain, South-France, Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria) at the sub-basin scale, building upon other ongoing research activities at these sites. Experience of data needs and model application, through close interaction with a range of end-users, will be used to prepare guidelines for the operational use of improved river models in environmental management plans.
Expected Impacts:
The innovation of the project is lying in the fact that substantive new insights into the distinctive water quality dynamics of temporary waters will be gained. The results of the project will also increase the applicability of water quality models to temporary waters. The targeted results will support a more comprehensive water resources management in water deficient regions and the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive in the Mediterranean. More efficient protection of surface water quality will provide the methodology to reduce the amount of polluted water and increase the amount of usable water and water security in water crisis regions.
Results from the project are important for all southern European countries and will also be transferable to other semiarid regions world-wide.
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